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!

This Day Changes Everything is the super cute second YA lbgtq+ romance by Edward Underhill. Abby and Leo, two teens that are in NYC to perform with their separate school marching bands to perform in the Macy's day parade, end up having a life changing day together when they both get on to the wrong subway train. Not only are Abby and Leo on an adventure in NYC but they are also on an adventure of self discovery. Abby has just recently come to the realization that she might be queer, but because of the small town she comes from, she doesn’t feel she has any peers to help her navigate these feelings. Leo is a trans boy just trying to get accepted and seen for who he is by his school and also his own family. This book had everything a YA romance needed. There’s hidden smiles, angst, group texts, amazingly supportive friends, and the sweetest kiss. Just like Always the Almost, This Day Changes Everything is such a well written novel about being a teen and discovering your sexual Identity and just trying to feel accepted, especially by your family, for your gender identity. Edward Underhill’s romances are great for anyone, but they’re especially great for those in the trans and lbgtq+ community. Thank you netgalley and SMP for a digital copy of this arc.

4.5 stars! This book was so fun! I love a book that takes place over about a day because you get so much detail and you truly feel like you’re with the characters as the time starts to tick by. I really enjoyed the main characters and this is such a great YA book that deals with identity and love. I enjoyed how this book examines gender and sexuality, and also how it dispels some common misconceptions about how there is no one “right” way to love someone. This really made my heart so happy. That warm and fuzzy feeling was definitely there for me. I do wish we had a little more about what happened after the end of the day adventure that is the main plot, but I also understand why the author stopped the story where it did.

The fast-paced plot, filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Underhill's vivid descriptions of New York City transport readers to the heart of the action, making it feel like they're experiencing the city alongside the characters.

Immediately, I wanted to read Edward Underhill's sophomore novel based on the cover!

Abby Akerman thinks everything has a rightful place and fate. She's thrilled to be marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, especially with it being the same setting as her all-time favorite romance read. It's the perfect time, in her opinion, to open up about her feelings towards her best friend.

Leo Brewer just wants to get on the bus, march in the parade, and go back home. He KNOWS and trusts that the world is out to bite them,, one bad luck happening at a time. This especially is about to become true as their whole family, ahem Southern family, finds out that they're trans. Thanks a lot, Universe.

But the Universe definitely has other plans as Leo and Abby run into each other on the wrong subway train in NYC. Off on a mission to help Abby share her feelings and stop fate from happening for Leo, they set their sights on exploring NYC. To them, this day will change everything.

I enjoyed reading another Underhill, this time dealing with NYC and the magic of belief in all the right places. I strongly believe the importance of others seeing themselves on the page and find that every single time I open a book authored by Edward.

Ahhhhhhh!!! Edward Underhill has done it again. This book was so, so good. There were so many elements that left me wanting more, because these characters were so close to my chest. I love the musical elements in both of his books, and I hope we get to see more of that moving forward from him! These transmasculine queer characters are EXACTLY what we need right now, and Edward has a gift in telling their stories!

I have been withholding my review in support of the boycott on St. Martin’s Press and it’s imprints and I will continue to do so until a the concerns are addressed. Readers and influencers demand accountability and action.

This book was requested by a previous Lesbrary reviewer who did not finish or review it. In order to keep my Netgalley feedback up to date, I am submitting this review marking it as a DNF, though it was another reviewer who requested this.

This was a quick and quirky read loved that they got to navigate around together finding themselves. Would recommend this one

Thoughts and Themes: I started reading this book and ended up putting it down for a bit because I couldn't get into it. I am really glad that I picked it back up and decided to give it a try. I really wasn't invested in the story until a little over 30% into the book so I am glad that I kept reading. I got invested as Leo and Abby meet each other on the train and wanted to k now more about what happens next for them.

I loved the way that this story unfolds and becomes a love story about Leo and Abby instead of what we originally thought we were getting. I loved following them all throughout New York City and this book made me want to go out to the city and experience it myself.

Characters: In this book you are introduced to our main characters, Leo and Abby, along with some of their friends, Kat and Evan. Throughout the book you get to meet some side characters and have a bit of interactions with Leo's sister as well.

I love the relationship between Leo and Abby and how this develops all within a day. I love the way this shifts from them being closed and guarded off from the world and each other to them seeing pieces of each other that others don't get to see. I appreciate how the author manages to show each of their feelings about the other and their confusion over those feelings.

Writing Style: This book is told in first person going back and forth from Leo and Abby's perspectives. I liked that we got to see both sides of the story and hear how they were both interpreting things. I appreciated how the author shared both of their feelings as things were unfolding.

Abby is in love with her best friend Kat. And when her school band travels to New York to play in the Macy’s Day Parade, she is going to tell her.
Leo is also in New York with his band. And while his extended family thinks he’s “just a tomboy”, they are about to learn the truth.
After a subway mix up, Abby and Leo find themselves on an epic adventure, spending one magical New York City day together.

This was a story of two teenagers figuring out who they are and navigating a society that doesn’t always accept them. From exploring and expressing new feelings, to finally letting people see who you really are, Abby and Leo’s story did not disappoint.

This felt like a queer version of Nicola Yoon’s The Sun is Also a Star, and I am here for it.

This is a cute, quick read that will appeal to lovers of sweet YA romance. I enjoyed Leo and Abby's trek around NYC as they learn about each other and explore not only the city but the possibilities of the future. Lots of wonderful representation. Overall, a likeable enough set of characters, plot, and conclusion.
A few times the flow of the narrative seemed stalled because a character steps outside of the action to explain something rather than letting the reader figure things out.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC of This Day Changes Everything! All opinions in this review are my own.

This Day Changes Everything is part Dash & Lily and part The Lizzie McGuire Movie. While I can see it being a really fun read for a teen, it stressed me out as an adult that Abby and Leo were wandering around the city (and yes, I do recognize I'm not the intended audience for this book). I did really like how Abby and Leo navigated their way through both their adventure and their budding relationship. The author does an excellent job of showing the range of queerness and characters who don't want to be defined by labels. The scene in The Strand where Abby and Leo find a group of people they feel like they truly belong with was sweet. Overall, this is a fun teen adventure in New York City. The author shows both the good and the bad of New York, and created truly loveable characters.

This book was sweet but probably not something I will be thinking about frequently. The rom-com element was whimsical but there were parts that took that a little too far or where the characters were oblivious ending in missed opportunities and the plot dragging on. In the end, though I did enjoy the story and loved all the representation!

I want to read this and support the author so badly but SMO has still not addressed the boycott or Readers for Accountability so this one will just have to wait.