This book was a 2.5 for me. I read Always the Almost and I liked it but this one for me was really slow and it felt like nothing was really happening. I wanted to like it more cus I loved all the queer rep but the story just didn't really do it for me.

This book was super hard for me to keep up with. I also felt like the writing was super young. I did not finish reading this one because I just did not care for the overall story.

THOUGHTS

This book is so warm and fuzzy and cute. I don't know what else to say besides that. I thought Always the Almost was good, and this book was so much better than that.


PROS
Fangirl: Abby knows that the book she loves isn't necessarily "good" on a technical level. But that doesn't stop her from absolutely loving it. This Day Changes Everything is really embroiled in niche fandom and fanfiction cultures, and I love that. I love that it highlights the communities that can form around books and writing, and I love how unapologetic Abby is about adoring this not-necessarily-great book. When she loses her extra-special edition, it truly is devastating.

Small Town Reality: Both of these kids come from small towns in conservative-leaning states, and that really makes a difference in their coming-out stories. Leo is out, kind of, and because of this, he feels ostracization in his everyday life. Abby isn't out, and she isn't sure she can be. She doesn't know if her home is safe, if her town is safe. She knows her state isn't, with new anti-LGBTQ legislation all the time, and so though this book is ultimately light and fluffy, it does touch on this bit of reality. And I appreciate that.

Queer Fluidity: These kids aren't quite settled into their queer identities, for the reasons listed above, and so this book is not just a straightforward (pun intended) love story. They're still figuring things out, trying labels out, and wrestling with what it means to be queer--and how that might not be something so black and white.


CONS
Off-Season: This isn't necessarily a complaint about the book itself (which in itself says a lot about the book!). But the decision of the publisher to put this holiday book out in February makes no sense to me. It is very much a holiday book. It's Thanksgiving week, and they're marching in the parade. And the NYC they experience is fully in the holiday season. So reading it out-of-season diminished my experience a bit, and I can't imagine being a bookseller trying to sell this book in February. I'm not sure why the publishers have decided to hurt a genuinely excellent book's sales in this way. (In other words, do buy this cozy romance its publication week and save it for a wonderful holiday read when next winter rolls around!)

YOLO FOMO: This book gave me so much anxiety. I might be too much of a rule-follower for this particular fantasy, but as soon as they were separated from the group, I got nervous. I know they're teenagers, not children, and they did have each other... but being stranded in a major city (when they're both small town people) and missing out on the actual tours that were scheduled (which is a tragedy, in my own tour-loving opinion) is just anxiety-inducing. Having their friends cover for them not just for a little bit but for the entire day... It was almost too much for me! The cuteness overruled this anxiety, but I was definitely anxious about the fact that they were missing their itinerary.

Weird Sniping: The biggest (genuine) complaint I have about this book is Leo's weird snippiness. I know it's grumpy-sunshine romance. And I have no problems with Leo's generally grumpy attitude. But when he kinda starts to maybe be into Abby, he grows pretty snippy with her. If I were Abby, just getting to know him after a few hours with him, this would be a major turn-off, and I didn't like it. Luckily, he doesn't stay in this funk long, but I did still find myself annoyed with him.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9/10
Fans of Lio Min's Beating Heart Baby will love this new marching band romance. Those who adored the NYC of Casey McQuiston's One Last Stop will love this charmingly festive cityscape.

'This Day Changes Everything' is a book that will resonate with both teenagers and adults. It presents a sweet and touching romance involving teens who are in the process of self-discovery, exploring what that means for themselves, their friendships, and families. Underhill does an excellent job of portraying the experiences and emotions of the LGBTQIA+ community through the characters, all while taking readers on a fun high school marching band (mis)adventure in NYC. I appreciate how he emphasizes that not everything needs a label or fits neatly into a category.

“Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, for sending this eARC for review consideration.”

I've previously read another book by Edward Underhill, Always the Almost, which was adorable and still lives in my thoughts rent-free, and this second novel by Edwards is no exception. When I saw that the vibe of this book was Dash & Lily meets Ferris Bueller's Day Off, I immediately shouted YES! Ferris Bueller is one of my favourite movies, and I adore rewatching Dash & Lily around Christmas, so I figured this story would be a huge comfort, and I was right.

This book, no matter how it was going to go, seemed so vital to me since it was full of queer joy and trans appreciation. Leo and and Abby felt extremely authentic and real, in the sense that they had the kind of softness that people who are still figuring themselves out have. I adored them, and Edward has always created characters who leave a lasting mark on you, so please read this when it is released!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Synopsis: Two queer kids in the Macy’ Parade get lost in NYC and have an adventure of a lifetime.

Thoughts: A super cute novel about two queer kids, NYC and falling in love. Unfortunately I felt the character development was slow and it wasn’t until the end of the book that I felt more connected and routing for Leo and Abby. Nevertheless a cute, easy novel about queer and trans kids!

Thank you to Edward Underhill, Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending this ARC my way. Underhill has done something truly wonderful in this book. I have to ask first off did he secretly spy on me during my high school band trip to California for the Rose Bowl Parade? All jokes aside, everything in this book was very relatable in the band sense. I was SHOCKED to find out the author himself was never in band or went to a parade! He did an amazing job accounting what it would be like and I can say he's right on the mark.

Now to the plot. I adored the set up for this novel. Two queer characters meet in precisely the way the universe intended. Leo is a trans boy trying to find where he fits into his small southern town and more importantly his identity. Abby is trying to figure out what queer means to her and what title suits her best. Again from a small town where it isn't the easiest to be who she is. They spend 24 hours together and discover more than landmarks in New York City. The romance felt effortless and the use of liminal spaces as describing people was genius.

You know how some books, and especially some authors, just stick with you and you would read just about anything by them because you know you'll probably end up loving it? Well, I'm hear to tell you Edward Underhill is 100% one of those authors for me. But that's not at all why I ended up absolutely loving this book. Let me explain. I read "Always the Almost" (Edward's debut novel) last year and a part of me has been forever changed by that. Not having any friends that are trans, I knew next to nothing about what that experience could be like for a person. And before reading ATA, I had never read a trans story before. That book taught me so much in such a short read and the sheer JOY in that book had me equally crying and laughing so much I just about needed 3-5 business days to recover. Edward's writing paints such a beautiful picture of his characters, their environments and the way the people they meet and the experiences they discover along their journey help grow them so much as people. It's a true talent and I'm grateful to be able to experience his stories.

Now... "This Day Changes Everything?" It's so many things. Comfort, strength, joy, humor, and magic. It has me smiling every time I think about it and all i want to do is go back for a reread so I can chase that feeling again. I can already tell Abby & Leo are going to hold such a special place in my heart because I've never fallen in love with two characters as quickly as I did them. It goes past their unique grumpy x sunshine dynamic (which is SO cute and a personal fave of mine), but it's the way they somehow discover so much about themselves and each other while being physically lost together that makes their relationship stick with you. It's the way Edward wrote these two characters, their day in New York and the people they meet along the way that has left a mark on me. Tears have never poured so hard down my face as they did during the "you exist to me" scene. I felt "𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨" in that moment, too.

Overall, this book was the slice of warm joy I needed this snow day, and not-so-unrelated, I will be buying a plane ticket to New York asap (sorry, can't do a nineteen hour bus ride like these marching band kids can). Also may or may not have written "The Universe is what you make it" and stuck it at my desk so I'm reminded of that little nugget of wisdom everyday.

I absolutely should've read the blurb before requesting this book and that's on me. I love a queer story as much (or possibly more) than the next person, but this one just didn't quite hit for me. I think part of it was that I was expecting for there to be a time loop, but also there wasn't really any conflict. I loved seeing New York and watching Abby and Leo fall in love with their queerness and each other, but apart from that I was kinda meh on it.

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This book is so wholesome and sweet! There's just something about YA romance, especially one that takes place in less than 24 hours.

The representation in this book was wonderful. Abby and Leo are two queer teens struggling with their identities who stumble upon each other when they both get on the wrong train during a marching band trip to New York City. As a former band geek, I loved the band references because they brought me back to all the great times I had with my friends in band, especially the trips and bus rides. Seeing the growth in not only Abby and Leo, but the growth and acceptance from their friends and family too, was so sweet and wholesome and just made me hopeful for generations to come.

Overall, this was just such a cute, feel good book that I loved!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Move over, Nick and Nora! This is the falling in love in new york story for the next generation. Underhill’s book is pure queer joy, particularly trans joy. I will admit, it fell into a trap I hate: where a girl who’s attracted to both girls and boys starts leaning sapphic…but ends up with a man. True, we need more trans love stories. But why do most queer love stories tend to shake out this way? Still, the book has irresistible charm and offers an important take on the need to learn how to live with uncertainty. We may never be sure what the right choice is. That doesn’t mean we can’t keep making them.

I adored "Always the Almost" so I had very high hopes for this one. I'm afraid I didn't love "This Day Changes Everything" nearly as much as the author's first book, and I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters--if I didn't know it was a romance I would have thought they would end up as friends. I'd still recommend it for readers seeking a cute queer YA romance with strong Christmas/Hallmark movie vibes, and it was an easy read (which is always a compliment from me).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Leo and Abby are both struggling. Leo just wants people to see him for him, but his parents want to keep things from the extended family, saying he’s a tomboy. Abby wholeheartedly believes in true love but she’s gay and no one knows it. She’s also in love with her best friend, who doesn’t know how she feels. Then they get lost on the New York subway together. Can they help each find themselves? I enjoyed this one very much! A lovable story with two sweet protagonists! I loved the way Edward Underhill approached difficult topics in their book and the depictions of loneliness and finding someone who helps you see freedom! A story about finding who you are and where you fit in the world! Highly recommend! Can’t wait to read it again!

I'm a 40+ something adult, so YA books aren't always my cup of tea, but when it comes to queer YA books that bring queer joy, I've found that this author brings a smile to my face.

This Day Changes Everything is Underhill's sophomore book and he obviously had fun with the adventure he took us on. This story reminded me a little bit of Dash and Lily combined with a little bit of Today Tonight Tomorrow. It was like a fun scavenger hunt put on in NYC in 24 hours and I got to follow along on the ride with Abby and Leo as they discovered more about themselves in one short trip to a big city than they have in their years in high school in their small towns.

Abby and Leo travel to NYC with their high school marching bands to perform during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. When they end up getting separated from their groups, they end up on the wrong subway together and while they have very different outlooks on life and their trip to the city, they end up making the most of their day.

Abby is living her life with a supposed crush on her best friend and in love with a book that she has read a million times. And the book happens to be set in NYC, so this trip has been built up to something huge in her mind. It's her time to come to terms with who she is and coming out to her best friend. Leo meanwhile is not looking forward to this trip. He is the boy that has become the "Logistical Headache". He is constantly misgendered, his parents just keep calling him a tomboy and his marching band still places him with the girls because they just can't wrap their heads around that he identifies as male. It's like he can't just BE. But with Abby, he is just Leo and their day ends up being more successful than either of them can imagine.

With a great cast of characters and a fun adventure around the city, I enjoyed following Abby and Leo getting lost around NYC. I got to see them start one way and evolve over the course of the day they spent together. They got to just be 2 queer teenagers existing in the world without being singled out. I enjoyed the way that Edward Underhill gave these teens a sense of community while also allowing them to just enjoy being in the moment. From beginning to end, this story was well paced and the characters brought the story to life. This is the sort of book that you want to land in the hands of a queer teen that needs to see that there is joy to be had, even if you have to work at it and even if things get muddled along the way. But this isn't just a story of queer romance, it's also a love letter to romance stories in general. Because love stories make us see the possibilities are endless in this Universe and we must capture the moments.

Overall, this was a joy to read and brought a smile to my face. And now I want to go back to NYC and have my own (mis)adventure.

First, thank you to the publishers for letting me receive a copy of this ARC. I was instantly drawn to the cover and title of this book. Unfortunately, the actual book was a little more young adult than I was expecting and not entirely my cup of tea. I tend to gravitate more to fantasy novels or adult fiction rather than romance. Overall, the story itself is cute and characters are developed. I would say this book is pretty average. The plot does engage the reader and I can see some readers feeling connected to the story. 2-3 star book for me. I will round up for this one.

Edward Underhill does it again. I adored this coming of age and romance story set in New York City over the span of about two days! It explores figuring out your queerness, and having the courage to take a chance and risk it all for love.

4.5 stars - it took me a minute to get into this book, but once we were in the train with our two main characters, I couldn't put it down. Absolutely loved these two (grumpy sunshine is a favorite trope of mine) and I thoroughly enjoyed their growth and finding out their feelings.

Let me start by saying that I absolutely love the queer representation!! It was exactly what I could have used when I was in high school.
I loved getting to know the characters and watching them find themselves throughout NYC. I relate to Abby in so many ways that I almost felt like I was finding myself all over again. Abby and Leo are so cute. This was an amazing book. All queer you deserve an epic love story and to also see it represented. This book is exactly that.

such an utterly cute read like?? my gosh leo and abby go so well together and while the story is semi fantastical (or at least implausible) the characters are so grounded and real. thanks for the ARC

I am withholding my review until the end of the SMP boycott in solidarity with the communities that have been harmed