Teenage angst and self-discovery, LGBTQIA+ style.

This was a sweet story of two high school kids who met by accident in NYC while traveling with their marching bands as they were preparing for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The novel takes place on that one fateful day that changes their lives in unexpected ways.

Abby believes in magic and signs from the Universe, and thinks this trip will provide her with the chance to share her feelings she has for her best friend Kat in an epic way. Leo on the other hand is the grumpy to her sunshine and is worried about not being accepted as the trans male he is. As fate unfolds, the two share a whirlwind day that does just what the title says, and I enjoyed all of it.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! I selected this YA rom-dram (didn’t know that was a genre 😂) because it sounded like a Rainbow Rowell type story and the author was new to me. I’ll be checking out his previous novel Always the Almost soon!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

There was like a Ying vs Yang thing going on with both Abby and Leo. Although they are from two different high schools, they meet in the cutest way.

There isnt a whole lot I can say that hasn't been said before. I love the 24 hour romances and adored both Abby and Leo

This book was so good. It was such a sweet, fluffy queer romance that also dealt with more serious queer topics (coming out to family, questioning your identity, etc.). But there were so many goofy shenanigans that keep the story moving, and it was very much a happy story.
I loved the grumpy x sunshine trope in this book. It felt like there was a legitimate reason for the grumpiness (anxiety over being outed) and it didn’t do a random 180 but took its time with melting the frozen heart.
Yes, I cried at the end while snuggled with my stuffed animals.
I liked the ambigious, yet happy, ending.

This was such a sweet YA book with queer and trans rep about finding yourself while being lost in NYC. Major Ferris Bueller’s Day Off vibes with an impromptu scavenger hunt. When Abby loses the book she’s been annotating for her best friend (and crush) she thinks it the of the world, but really it’s the beginning of the most epic day in New York. I loved the found family aspect and how the two main characters open up to each other throughout their time together.

after reviewing edward underhill’s debut last year and absolutely adoring it, i had high hopes for their sophomore novel and he sure did not disappoint. this story of two teens in marching band having shenanigans across new york city on thanksgiving eve was the story i never knew i truly needed. not even discussing the characters yet, the actual plot of two teens separating from their high school groups going on essentially a scavenger hunt across the city, all while coming to terms with their feelings, their identities, it was peak 2000s rom-com energy for me. and if it wasn’t marketed as that, it definitely should be.

getting to follow abby and leo’s live in this 2 day snippet was truly a highlight. it’s always so funny to read about people visiting the city i grew up around for the first time. experiencing the overwhelming energy that is NYC. and underhill depicted their adventures so well. showcasing some iconic and popular landmarks, up to the quintessential experiences like the hole-in-the-wall pizza places. were the native new yorkers a tad too nice to our out of towners… yes. but we let it slide in the name of romcom movie magic! i think overall, it was an honest look at the mayhem of the city, even (and especially really) before a major holiday.

i loved abby and leo so much. seeing them see each other, fully. accepting their queer identities. having this whirlwind romance and adventure. it was truly just so heartwarming. all i want is to read about them in college, anytime after the books ends really. their relationship is just so precious.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. Review previously withheld in solidarity with the St. Martin’s Press reviewer boycott. All opinions are my own. 

I really enjoyed Edward Underhill’s debut last year, and his sophomore effort, This Day Changes Everything, is arguably even better. Writing stories set in a single day (24 hours) can be tough, but I love how Underhill made use of the timeframe and crafted a well-paced, engaging romance.

The two leads are both wonderful, and I love how both of them go on journeys of queer affirmation with help of the other. Abby arguably stood out a little more, and I loved her sentiments about her favorite romance book that she’s read dozens of times, and how it plays a role in how she defines love…but also sets the stage for her to change on her own epic journey that subtly parallels that of the fictional protagonist she reads about. Her journey with her queer identity is also well-fleshed-out, with her not really being sure how to label herself, and coming to terms with sexual fluidity over the course of the story. Her growth in understanding her bond with her friend/crush, Kat, is also really great, highlighting the nuance in unrequited feelings, and with great ace rep on Kat’s part. 

Leo is a great counterpart for Abby, as he’s also coming into his own, albeit as a trans boy. He’s dealing with the fact that not everyone in his family knows or understands about his gender, and as a result, no one really sees him for who he is. 

But despite having just met, these two “get” each other immediately, and while it could easily have felt cliche or silly, it worked, and I rooted for them as they navigated their growing feelings for each other. I loved the little ways they supported and affirmed each other, and while I’m not sure if this will last, it’s sweet in a “teen’s first real love” kind of way. 

This was a super-sweet read, and I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a queer take on some classic romcom archetypes.

This was sooo cute!! I loved the premise of this story and how fast paced it was. Made me feel like I was watching an episode of Glee :-)

DNFd at 8%
The main characters were annoying me.

*Thank you netgalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book helped heal something in me that I didn’t know needed healed. When people figure out they’re trans later in life, it often feels like there’s parts of their childhood that are just missing, because they experienced them as a version of themself that doesn’t feel right. For me, reading trans representation in YA, fills those empty spaces. For me, someone who’s entire middle school and high school years were filled to the brim with band, this book was perfect.

This is the cutest! A grumpy sunshine YA rom com. Two teens stuck together in New York City creating adorable memories and eventually falling in love. I loved this story and the main characters! And also the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is a huge part of this which makes this even better.

Trekking through New York City on a quest to win her secret love, Abby goes through mishap after mishap while discovering herself, the community, and the life she might want to lead. On this journey, unwillingly at first, is Leo who is facing his own life challenge as a result of the trip to NYC. These two bang heads at first only to realize that they may have more in common than they thought.

I always wondered what it would be like to follow the pages of a book and see whether it would have the same impact. I’m actually trying to think of a book where I would want to visit every place the character went and at the moment I am drawing a blank. This is a common theme in stories and I confess the one that immediately comes to mind is An Affair to Remember (Dir. Leo McCarey, 1957). Scenes from this movie have been duplicated or reminisced on in many entertainment forms.

This Day Changes Everything is a romcom meet cute young adult romp. I enjoyed the journey of Leo and Abby. It was a lot of fun as information was parsed out and the characters bonded. Their issues are discussed in depth as people flow in and out of their path. I really liked the souvenir collection, but not the result of it (chuckle - trying not to give anything away).

The secondary cast is used to provide information or another point of view. Edward Underhill doesn’t shy away from the ignorance within our own rainbow circle and how we deal with it and grow.

Overall, their day is touched by magic just like the movies. The story can lag at times as there are a lot of details and both characters share their thoughts on the same events. Just like a movie there is a big finish so wait for it. This Day Changes Everything will have you smiling at the end.

I don't know what it was with this story it just wasn't something that keep me wanting to read it I was okay with putting it down. I don't know if it the insta love or just all the talk about band and the Macy parade or what it just didn't fully click with me

I absolutely adored Edward Underhill's debut and had pretty high expectations for his sophomore book. Luckily, This Day Changes Everything won me over, too. As a former band kid, I was enamored by this love letter to marching band and nerds everywhere (and New York, really). Plus, the fun (if a little unrealistic) Ferris Bueller's Day Off-style misadventures made for a winding and exciting plot. I loved both Abby's and Leo's characters and voices and their story was an easy one to fall in love with. Plus, for all the light and fluffy romance stuff, there is an equal amount of realness and tough topics that made for a well-rounded read.

The 24-hour romance trope is not one of my favorites, and even though it was fairly well executed, it still was the main reason this wasn't a five-star read for me. Some of the aspects just felt a little rushed or over the top.

Edward Underhill's *This Day Changes Everything* is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that explores the transformative power of pivotal moments in life. Underhill's evocative storytelling and deep character introspection create a compelling narrative that resonates on an emotional level. The book’s blend of heartfelt drama and insightful reflections makes it a memorable read.

This was a cute queer story. I love that it took place in New York City and you got to see different parts of it because the characters were trying to complete a little task list for a romantic gesture. This book was definitely about exploring in more ways than one. I loved the setting and the characters. Overall an enjoyable queer read.

content warning: transphobia, deadnaming, homophobia

Audiobook specific: I enjoyed both narrators. Logan is one I have enjoyed before so I was excited to hear them again.

Thank you to Wednesday books for an ecopy. All thoughts are my own.

3.5 rounded down to 3

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC!

I'm reviewing this 5 months after reading the novel, and I'm gonna be honest... I don't remember a thing. I didn't even remember reading this until I saw it in my goodreads. Once I read the description, however, small bits are slowly coming back to me.

I'm not saying that me forgetting literally everything about this is necessarily a bad thing, I obviously was enticed by it enough to read it in only one day, but it definitely also wasn't a memorable book for me. I wish I could write a better review than this, unfortunately I just don't remember any of my thoughts on it at all.

What a beautiful romance story. This novel encapsulates everything I want in a YA romance from the whirlwind experience, changing emotions, complex characters, and just an abundance of hope. Underhill has approached the complexity and hope for his characters in a truly unique way. Leo, a trans boy, from North Carolina is about to be outed to his extended family via coverage of him playing in the marching band in the Macy's day parade on national television and Abby, a maybe lesbian in love with her best friend, from Missouri find a liminal space in NYC. After hoping on the wrong subway and finding themselves stuck together, Abby and Leo get a chance to get to know one another on an epic quest through a city that allows them to exists as they are.

This Day Changes Everything follows Abby and Leo, two teens that meet while in New York to perform with their respective marching bands in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. After getting on the wrong subway train, the two explore the city and get to know one another and themselves.

This was a really fun YA novel. It's a quick and relatively light read. My only criticism is that the characters felt a little underdeveloped but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. This is my second read from Edward Underhill and I'm excited to see what comes next from this author.

this book was so beautiful. the representation was everything and don't even get me started on the beautiful cover. gorgeous.

this was v fun, reminded me a lot of 'dash & lily's book of dares' but WOW falling in love in one day gave me a big ick. otherwise, this was a quick read that i had a good time with!